The major uses of phenol involve its conversion to precursors to plastics.Condensation with acetone gives bisphenol-A, a key precursor to polycarbonates and epoxide Condensation of phenol, alkylphenols, or diphenols with formaldehyde gives phenolic resins, Partial hydrogenation of phenol gives cyclohexanone, a precursor to nylon.Phenol is also a versatile precursor to a large collection of drugs, most notably aspirin but also many herbicides and pharmaceutical drugs. Phenol is also used as an oral anesthetic/analgesic in products such as Chloraseptic or other brand name and generic equivalents, commonly used to temporarily treat pharyngitis.
